A review by satsumaorange
Unraveling by Karen Lord
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I loved the writing style - I enjoy books that feel slightly "pretentious" in their writing style, and I actually learned a few new words with this one, which is rare for me! The story was lovely and satisfying, and I really liked all the main characters.
The plot does a lot of time-jumping, and it's important to distinguish between real and unreal events, but there is a gray area. I really liked how this book played with the fundamental elements of realness, and the way it was described and implied, rather than bluntly explained to the reader. By the end, I felt like I "got it" enough to inhabit the world Karen Lord created, but there's still an air of mystery and otherworldliness that I am am reveling in. I feel like Lord understands that sometimes it's a good thing to not know exactly what's going on! Lord expertly knows what "rules" to share and which to hide from the reader, and the resulting feeling of mystery is a part of the experience.
I feel like I didn't entirely follow the murder-mystery plot itself, and some of the supporting cast were kind of hard to recall because there was a lot of names. In retrospect, I wish I'd written down a list of names and defining events so I could keep up a little better. Still, on the whole, pretty enjoyable!
The plot does a lot of time-jumping, and it's important to distinguish between real and unreal events, but there is a gray area. I really liked how this book played with the fundamental elements of realness, and the way it was described and implied, rather than bluntly explained to the reader. By the end, I felt like I "got it" enough to inhabit the world Karen Lord created, but there's still an air of mystery and otherworldliness that I am am reveling in. I feel like Lord understands that sometimes it's a good thing to not know exactly what's going on! Lord expertly knows what "rules" to share and which to hide from the reader, and the resulting feeling of mystery is a part of the experience.
I feel like I didn't entirely follow the murder-mystery plot itself, and some of the supporting cast were kind of hard to recall because there was a lot of names. In retrospect, I wish I'd written down a list of names and defining events so I could keep up a little better. Still, on the whole, pretty enjoyable!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Dementia, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Violence